The National Wrestling Alliance world champion said growing up in rural Norfolk was part of the reason he had succeeded in wrestling.

“With the exception of television there wasn’t a whole lot of distractions except sports,” he said, adding that he supported Norfolk Day and would be celebrating on July 27 with the rest of the county.

The initiative was launched by the EDP and Norwich Evening News in partnership with BBC Radio Norfolk and has the backing of business and community organisations who are planning events.